Dramatic Technique Part 89

How dare he break into the women's quarters and then ask for mercy?

How dare he appeal to the Executioner, after betraying him to the Sultan?

Who was Hajji before the Executioner looked with favor on him?

A swine, an abomination picked out of the gutter.

A cur, a dog,--a-- He approaches Hajji.

Hajji hurries up the steps.

The Executioner is too quick, gets up after him and takes Hajji by the throat.

Doing so, he catches hold of the chain with the coin that Hajji stole from Sheikh (Act II, Scene 4.) Where did Hajji get this?

Hajji lies, saying it is his.

It has always been his.

Executioner produces the other half on a ma.s.sive gold chain.

Miraculous!

Hajji must be Executioner's father.

_H_. "You--my son?"

_E_. "Don't you remember?"

[This was altered so Executioner tells how he can just remember that Hajji tells the his father breaking a coin when they were Executioner all this. being attacked in the desert, before he, the See Act II, Scene 4, boy, was carried away by the Sultan's troops.

where the Sheikh gives _H._ "You mean when I was--Sheikh?"

Hajji the facts.] _E._ "Were you Sheikh or just a robber, then?"

_H._ "Just a robber at the time--just a robber--And your mother--do you remember her?"

_E._ "I have tried to often--Her name escapes me."

_H._ Mentions name of first wife: "Zeenab--whom I loved above all things."

"Zeenab! That was her name!"

_H._ "She had eyes like stars; and tall, she was tall like a poplar.

How wonderful is fate!

So you are her son!"

_E._ "Your son."

_Hajji, slowly eyeing him and taking the Executioner's chain._

_H._ "And the halves fit! What a splendid chain! What a heavy chain! Heavier than mine.

You have prospered in life, my son--"

_E._ "My father--"

_H._ "Your father, yes. I am your father--Come to my arms."

With that he takes the gold chain round the Executioner's neck and twists it till the Executioner chokes. Forces him down on his knees.

Then he pushes him backward into the bath.

Holds him under the water and drowns him. "I killed the old rat! I'll kill his sp.a.w.n!

Blessed be Allah for this day of days." He laughs wildly and exultantly.

_There is one more splash, then silence in the bath.

Knocking on the door left.

More knocking.

Then the door is broken open.

The Sultan enters with his Guard and Torchbearers, the old Woman No.

I. following._

_The Sultan._ "Where is the woman? Where is Zira?

Search the Hareem!"

Some of the Soldiers cross into door right.

_Sultan. Sultan turns and sees Hajji on the steps by Hajji._ the bath.

"You?"

_H._ "Yes." Allah allowed him to escape in order to serve the Sultan.

_S._ "Cut him down!"

_H._ "Stop! Look first whether I am not a good servant.

Look in the bath!"

The Sultan looks.

_S._ "The Executioner!"

_H._ "It was all his fault.

He drove me to attempt your life."

_Soldiers reenter, bringing in Wife. Other women of the Hareem follow._

_Wife. Soldier says Zira not there.

Sultan. Wife confesses she has sent her to Sanctuary.

Hajji. Hajji begged her to do so.

Old Woman No. I._ _S._ "Hajji! Ever Hajji! Why should he have any say in regard to Zira?"

_H._ "She is my daughter."

_S._ "Yours!"

_H._ "Now say I am not a good servant when I serve you with such a daughter.

Will you still kill me?"

Old Woman No. I testifies he is speaking the truth, is Zira's father.

_S._ "You have attempted my life.

What would my piety be if I pardoned the dagger that tried to kill the descendant of the Prophet?

Taking the law into your own hands (_points to bath_) does not wipe out your crime.

But you are the father of Zira, The woman whom I mean to make my Sultana.

Her father's blood must not be shed by me.

Go, then, be banished, forgotten!

Your life is spared--but only under one condition.

Henceforth you shall be as dead to me--to your daughter."

_H_. "To my daughter? Never to speak to her again, to feel her cheek against mine? Never?"

_S._ "I have spoken."

Hajji tears his clothes, strews ashes on his head from the brazier by his side and goes out, staggering, by door left.

The Sultan will go the Mosque to beg the High Priest to release Zira from the Sanctuary.

_Curtain_

LAST SCENE

_The same as the first scene, Act I. Before the Mosque, moonlight._

_Young Beggar of Act I is seated on the seat on which Hajji installed him.

Hajji enters staggering down the street.

He stands at the Mosque a moment._

[Here was introduced a / _Wants to enter, then turns away in despair.

scene with the Priest. < comes="" to="" his="" accustomed="">

Meccah is to be Hajji's Young Beggar is there.

goal. Altered when play As Hajji approaches, the Young Beggar begins was written.] [The to beg of him.